Use In general or right now? Simple Present in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday.

Present Progressive right now Look! Colin is playing football now.

present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same time First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. Colin is playing football and Anne is watching. Signal words always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never first then Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want Timetable / Schedule or arrangement? Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule? Simple Present Present Progressive arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight. The film starts at 8 pm. at the moment at this moment today now right now Listen! Look!

action set by a timetable or schedule

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time? Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time? Simple Present Present Progressive only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Bob works in a restaurant. Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

daily routine

Certain Verbs The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We are on holiday.

possession: belong, have Example: Sam has a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He feels the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loves pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I believe you.

Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say Example: I am watching TV, he says.

1. Look! He (leave) is leaving the house. 2. Quiet please! I (write) am writeing.a test. 3. She usually (walk) walksto school. 4. But look! Today she (go) is goingby bike.

5. Every Sunday we (go) goto see my grandparents. 6. He often (go) to the cinema.

7. We (play) are playing Monopoly at the moment. 8. The child seldom (cry) cries 9. I (not / do) amnotdoinganything at the moment. 10. (watch / he) Does he watchthe news regularly? 11. This (be) isMarc. 12. He (wear) is wearinga t-shirt and shorts today. 13. He (eat) is eating an apple at the moment. 14. Marc (like) likesfruits and vegetables. 15. He (eat) eatssome every day. 16. Marc (know) knows that apples (be) aregood for his health. 17. This (be) isCaroline. 18. Caroline (have) HASlong blond hair. 19. She usually (wear) wearsglasses, but now she (wear) is wearingcontact lenses. 20. Caroline (like)likes sports. 21. She (play) playshandball every Monday and Thursday. 22. Joe and Dennis (be) arebest friends. 23. They often (meet) meetin the afternoon. 24. What (do / they) arethey doingat the moment? 25. They (play) playfootball. 26. They (love) lovefootball. 27. Joe (practise) practiseswith his father every weekend, but Dennis (not / play) does not playfootball very often. 28. These (be) areLinda and Jeff. 29. Linda (be) isJeff's little sister. 30. At the moment, the two kids (sit) are siting on the floor. 31. Jeff (hold) is holding a book right now, he (read) is readinga story to Linda. 32. Look! Linda (listen) is listeningcarefully and she (look) is lookingat the beautiful pictures. 33. Linda (love) lovesJeff's stories.
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34. He (read) reads a story to her every day. 35. Jeff sometimes even (write) writeshis own stories. 36. It (be) isearly in the morning. 37. Sally (get) getsout of bed, (open) opensthe window and (go) goesinto the bathroom. 38. Then she (have) hasbreakfast. 39. After breakfast, Sally usually (cycle) cycles to school. 40. After school, she (go) goesback home. 41. Sally usually (eat) eatsher lunch at home. 42. In the afternoons, she first (do) doesher homework and then she (meet) meetsher friends in the park. 43. What (do / she) is she doingnow? 44. She (play) is playing the guitar. 45. Her friends (listen) are listeningand some of them (sing) are singingalong. 46. When Sally (come) comeshome in the evening, she (have) hasdinner and then she (watch) watchesTV. 47. She (go) goesto bed at about 8 o'clock every day. 48. I (be) amvery busy today. 49. At noon I (visit) am visitingmy friend Tanya. 50. We (want) wantto have lunch together. 51. In the afternoon I (play) amplayingsquash with Emily. 52. In the evening, I (meet) ammeetingRob. 53. We (go) are goingto the cinema. 54. The film (start) startsat 8 pm. 55. Look! Jenny (go) is goingto school. 56. She (wear) is wearinga raincoat and wellies and she (carry) is carryingan umbrella. 57. Jenny usually (cycle) cyclesto school, but today she (take) is takingthe bus because it (rain) is raining

58. The bus (leave) leavesat 7.35 and (arrive) arrivesat Jenny's school at 7.45. 59. The first lesson (begin) at 8 o'clock. 60. James (live) in a little village. 61. He (be) in his last year at school. 62. After school, James (want) to become a banker. 63. So this week, he (do) a practical course in a bank. 64. There (be) a bank in a nearby town, but James (have) to take the bus to get there. 65. The bus (leave) at 5.30 in the morning and (return) at 8.15 in the evening. 66. James (not / like) to spend so much time in town before and after work, waiting for the bus. 67. Therefore, this week he (stay) with his aunt, who (live) in town. 68. James usually (wear) jeans and t-shirts, but while he (work) for the bank now, he (wear) a suit and a tie. 69. Today (be) Betty's birthday. 70. Betty (love) birthdays. 71. She (be) always very excited and (wake up) very early. 72. At six o'clock in the morning, Betty (hear) a noise. 73. She (get up) and (go) into the sitting room. 74. What (go on) ? 75. Look! Betty's cat Carlos (sit) on the table and he (play) with Betty's present. 76. Sue (be) a student from South Korea. 77. She (live) in Seoul and (study) medicine. 78. At the moment, however, Sue (live) in London. 79. She (do) a six-months practical course in a London hospital. 80. In five days, Sue (go) back to South Korea because the next term at university (start) in ten days. 81. Mary and Joe (be) in a clothes shop at the moment.
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82. They (look) at some jeans. 83. Joe only (have) one very old pair of jeans. 84. So he (want) to buy a new pair of jeans now. 85. Right now, he (try on) a pair of blue jeans. 86. These jeans (fit) very well, he (say) 87. But they (not suit) you, Mary (reply) Try on another pair. 88. What (think / you) ? he (ask) Mary, when has tried on another pair. 89. Great! How much (cost / they) ? When to use which tense? 1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use 2. For actions happening now, we use 3. The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in 4. The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use 5. The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. Look! They (leave) the house. 2. Brian (cycle) 30 km every day. 3. Samantha (do) her homework at the moment. 4. My parents (shop) right now. 5. He usually (get up) early in the morning. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. You (see / not) her every day. 2. The baby (sleep / not) at the moment. 3. I (read / not) a book now. 4. We (go / not) to school on Sundays. 5. He (watch / not) the news every day. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
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1. (you / go) on holiday by plane sometimes? 2. (they / play) computer games every day? 3. (she / eat) dinner at the moment? 4. What (they / do) right now? 5. (she / visit) her grandma very often? 1. Look! Jenny (go) to school. 2. On her back, Jenny (carry) her school bag. 3. The school bag (be) very heavy 4. Normally, Jenny (wear) black shoes, but today she (wear) red wellies. 5. And look, she (wear) a raincoat because it (rain) outside. 6. Jenny (not / want) to get wet. When to use which tense? 1. For present actions happening one after another, we use 2. For actions happening while speaking, we use 3. For arrangements for the near future, we use 4. For actions set by a schedule or timetable, we use 5. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: sometimes, never, every day? 6. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Listen!, at the moment, right now? Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. The lesson (start) at 9 o'clock. 2. He often (wear) a black cap. 3. I (meet) my friends in the youth club tonight. 4. My friend (move) house tomorrow. 5. My birthday (be) in September. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
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1. She (not / ride) her bike right now. 2. We (not / stay) at home tonight. 3. I (not / like) bananas. 4. They (not / know) the answer. 5. I (not / sit) in the garden at the moment. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. When (arrive / the plane) ? 2. (visit / you) Jane in hospital today? 3. What time (get up / you) in the mornings? 4. Why (cry / she) now? 5. (swim / they) in the pool at the moment? Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. I (live) in London. 2. This weekend, I (visit) my friends in Brighton. 3. The train to Brighton (leave) London at 6.45 in the morning. 4. In the early afternoon, we (want) to go on a sightseeing tour. 5. In the evening, we (go) to a concert. 6. The concert (start) at 8 o'clock. 7. I (come) back to London on Sunday. 8. My train (arrive) in London at 7.50 in the evening. When to use which tense? 1. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Look!, now? 2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom, never? 3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use 4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use 5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use 6. For arrangements for the near future, we use

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. We (help) in the canteen this week. 2. Martin usually (drive) to work. 3. But today, he (take) the bus. 4. Listen! She (practise) the piano. 5. My friend (play) the guitar every evening. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. He (not / spend) his holidays in Spain each year. 2. I (not / meet) Francis tonight. 3. They (not / fly) to London tomorrow. 4. We (not / work) this week. 5. The film (not / begin) at 7 o'clock. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. (leave / you) the party now? 2. (have / you) any brothers or sisters? 3. (love / she) him? 4. Who (cook) dinner tonight? 5. (send / he) you an e-mail every day? Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. Maria (want) to improve her English. 2. Therefore, she (do) a language course in London at the moment. 3. She (stay) with a host family and (must) take the tube to get to her language school. 4. It (be) only a five-minute walk to the nearest tube station. 5. The tube (leave) at half past eight. 6. The first lesson (begin) at 9 o'clock. 7. In the afternoons, the school (offer) sightseeing tours in and around London. 8. Tomorrow, the students of the language school (go) to Windsor.
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